Chapter 22

Katie froze as Damien's heartfelt whisper registered in her brain. He squeezed his eyes shut and tugged lightly at the cuffs. "Not exactly how I planned to say it. Let me go, cherie so I can hold you."
She scrambled up the bed, grabbed the key off her nightstand and hurried to unlock his wrists. When she leaned over he lifted his head and nipped her left breast through the leather bustier. She fumbled the key and groaned at the pleasure. As soon as he let up, she finished freeing him and almost instantly found herself flat on her back on the bed, gazing up into Damien's incredible gray eyes.
"I love you, Damien." She was so choked up the words came out as a hoarse whisper.
"I love you, Katie. More than I'd ever dreamed I could love anyone. I know this is sudden, but it's real. I know that with every fiber of my being."
"It's real." There wasn't the faintest shadow of a doubt in her mind. He was her other half, her perfect mate. Stone and Earth.
"I've got to have you, cherie. I need to be inside you right now." His rampant erection pushed into her stomach and he rubbed against her.
"Please." She shifted her hips, trying to get pressure where she needed it. Her needy pussy wept while her vaginal muscles clenched tight, begging to be filled.
Damien pushed aside the soaked thong and shoved inside. "Oui."
"Yes!" Their simultaneous cries echoed against the high ceilings of the loft. He set an urgent pace, but it wasn't enough. "Harder, Damien. I need you hard and fast this time."
"Anything, mon ange." He pistoned his thick shaft in and out of her, the force of it making her gasp with every stroke.
She dug her nails into his back and he bit down on her nipple through the bustier before nosing the leather aside and taking the abused nub into his mouth. He pulled hard, the delicious suction timed to match the thrust of his cock.
"Damien!" She called his name as the stars exploded around her. Damien speeded up, the increased pace driving her to yet another unbelievable peak. This time when she screamed his name he held himself deep, flooding her womb. Her drawn out orgasm continued and so did his, jet after jet of his hot seed filling her core. By the time they both finished, neither one of them could breathe, let alone speak. Finally, he rolled to the side, taking her with him, one leg thrown over his to hold their bodies together, still fused like two pieces of a puzzle.
"I want you to convert me," she whispered later, combing a hand through his hair. Dawn was only about twenty minutes away and she was delighted that this time he was in no hurry to leave her bed.
He clasped her hand with his. "It's too dangerous. I don't want to lose you, Katie. I couldn't bear it."
"But I'm only human, Damien. And though you haven't said, I know our life spans are very different. I don't want to grow old without you and I don't want you to watch me age and die." And she wanted more than anything to be able to bear his children.
"You'd rather die now?"
She shook her head. "I'm an Earth witch, remember? Stone should be a natural extension of that." She could see the yearning in his face and knew he was close to relenting so she pressed. "You agreed that we were made for each other. I have faith that the goddess will protect me."
He hugged her so close she could hear his throat work as he tried to speak. "I'm not used to being frightened."
"It was meant to be, my love. Trust me. I know this is the right thing for us to do. I need to be your mate, Damien."
He nodded against her hair and then pulled away. "I'll be right back."
He walked to the dresser where he'd emptied his pockets after work and picked up his small pocket knife, then returned to Katie. He helped her out of the bed and stripped her of her clothes. The only thing he left was the necklace. She'd told him she never removed the heirloom and since it was easily more than a meter long, it should survive whatever transformation occurred. If the gods were with him, within the week she'd also be wearing his wedding band.
He resumed his reclining position against the pillows then pulled her down on top of him, taking her lips in a brutal, ravishing kiss. It only took a second for his hormones to overpower his fear. As soon as he was hard again, he shifted Katie on his lap and slid back up inside her.
"You're sure?"
She nodded, not a trace of doubt or fear in her clear green gaze - just love, trust and unshakable faith. He prayed that she had enough for both of them.
He picked the pocketknife off the nightstand and sliced a small x on his palm. Then he reached for hers. "Give me your hand."
With no hesitation she did and he kissed her palm before making the same cut on it, keeping the incision as shallow as he could while still drawing blood. He interlaced their fingers so the two wounds pressed together, mingling their blood. Then he took one of her fishnet stockings and used it to bind their wrists together, ensuring the impromptu transfusion.
"Our blood combines at the same time as our bodies join. I hope to hell you know what you're doing my love. But know I want this more than I've ever wanted anything in my miserable life."
She rocked up and down on his cock, riding him slowly and easily as her fingers gripped hard on his. "I love you Damien. I know this is the right path. I've waited thirty-two years for you and I don't intend to waste a day now that I've finally found you."
She bent down and kissed him as she rocked, the taste of her warm and sweet on his lips. He pumped into her, mimicking her gentle pace, savoring the movement. He felt the magic flowing from his body to hers and from hers to his.
By the time they both came in another glorious burst of pleasure, he knew the transformation was complete. Katie was now a gargoyle. Now they only had to wait and see if she survived the coming dawn.